Screening: is an EIA required?
Different Approaches:
- ~ positive and negative lists (e.g. Philippines)
- ~ use of thresholds, definition of environmentally sensitive or 'critical' areas (e.g. Malaysia)
- ~ combinations of the above (e.g. EU)
Screening using listings:
Category 1
Projects not expected to result in any significant adverse impact on biodiversity resources (No EIA required)
Category 2
Projects likely to cause significant adverse impacts unless appropriate mitigation taken (EIA required)
Category 3
Projects likely to cause a range of significant adverse impacts with unknown magnitude demanding detailed study/ EIA
Screening using thresholds or criteria
Thresholds may be based on:
- ~ characteristics of the development (size, use of natural resources, processes, area of land required, risk of accidents)
- ~ location of development (existing land use, absorption capacity of natural environment, proximity to designated areas)
- ~ characteristics of the potential impact (e.g. level of emissions, likely extent - geographical area and size of affected population)
Eaxmple of screening thresholds: Malaysia
Environmental quality (prescribed activities) (environmental impact assessment) Order 1987 sets out 18 categories of projects with associated thresholds, including:
- For forestry projects:
- conversion of hill forest land to other land use covering an area of 50 ha or more
- Logging/ conversion of forest land to other use within the catchment area of reservoirs for municipal water supply, irrigation or hydro power generation or in areas adjacent to state and national parks and national marine parks
- logging covering an area of 500 ha or more
- Conversion of mangrove swamps for industrial, housing or agricultural use covering an area of 50 ha or more
- clearing of mangrove swamps on islands adjacent to national marine parks
Example of screening thresholds: EU
| Description of development | Applicable thresholds and criteria |
|---|---|
| Intensive fish farming | The installation resulting from the development is designed to produce more than 10 tonnes of dead weight fish per year |
| Installations for hydroelectric energy production | The installation is designed to produce more than 0.5 megawatts |
| Motorway service areas | The area of development exceeds 0.5 hectare |
From the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999 (S.I. No. 293)
Screening using combination of methods
The UK uses a combination of thresholds; positive and negative lists, case by case consideration:
- ~ EIA is mandatory for Schedule 1[1] projects (positive list), e.g. installations for storage of petroleum, petrochemical or chemical products with a capacity of 200,000 tonnes or more
- ~ Certain projects are exempt from EIA (emergency works, national security) (negative list)
- ~Other projects reviewed case by case and need for EIA depends on project size and environmental sensitivity (thresholds)
Consider information about the proposal and its potential impacts
Review confidence in information and impacts
Review characteristics of the environment and biodiversity at all relevant scales
Planning, environmental management and decision-making framework
Degree of public interest
"Triggers" for biodiversity inclusive impact assessment
Potential impacts on:
- PAs and other designated areas
- Areas supporting protected or listed species
- Areas supporting 'important' biodiversity
- Areas that provide important ecosystem services (flood defence, soil protection, groundwater re-charge, etc.)